Hearing an older man's voice, everyone turned to see a portly man with a thick, white mustache dressed in a grey suit, bowler hat, and glasses arrive. This is none other than Mr. Dickinson…I've never noticed before, but he kinda looks like the Monopoly guy.
"Good evening Mr. Dickinson," greeted Taro with a bow.
"I like the new shop Mr. Tate," Mr. Dickinson replied with a hand shake.
Taro then turned to the rest of us to introduce, "I'd like you all to meet someone. This is Stanley A. Dickinson, he's the chairman of the BBA."
"The BBA - the Beyblade Battle Association," Kenny asks - getting to his feet while Tyson just stares dumbly in shock.
I then start tuning them all out as Tyson asks Kenny if he knows Mr. Dickinson, Kenny explaining that the BBA is an organization that promotes and trains the world's best Beybladers - making Dickinson the most important man in the sport -, how he's a family friend of the Tates, and how he's here to have Taro be the first to hear the news.
Knowing exactly what's coming, I calmly walk over to join the other three boys in approaching Mr. Dickinson's valet who unrolls a poster advertising a Beyblade Battle Tournament. Here it is. My first step toward not dying. I just have to figure out how to win.
I'm not even 100% sure I have to win the whole thing, that's just my only sure-fire idea to make sure I'm acting as main character. At minimum I think I just have to make it to be part of the main cast - reaching the semifinals at minimum. However, even if I don't have to win, it'll probably be better for me if I do. As the story progresses, the plot armor gets thicker and it will be harder to break. So, doing as much damage as early as possible can't be a mistake.
I just have to figure out my next step to prepare. That's when I catch something Tyson is saying. I turn to him and ask, "Kai?"
"Yeah, I'm sure he's going to be there," Tyson replies seriously.
"As a matter of fact, he's already entered," Mr. Dickinson informs us.
"What," Tyson replies in shock.
"Kai might not be the friendliest of fellows, but he's a top-notch Beyblader and the returning champion."
Tyson and Kenny turn to each other as Tyson says in disbelief, "Kai's the returning champion!?"
I ignore the rest of the conversation of Mr. Dickinson trying to provoke us into competing and Max offering to help train. Tyson only beat Kai before so to start their rivalry and begin his journey as the main character. So, Kai should be stronger. If leeching the energy from Bit Beasts is how I make it to the top, then I should try getting some from Kai's Dranzer. Only problem is how dumb it is to approach someone who makes a habit of destroying his opponent's Beyblade.
"What about you Scott," Tyson suddenly asks me.
"Huh, what," I ask in surprise.
Max answers, "Tyson was just saying how we should cheer each other on in the tournament no matter who wins. What do you say? Isn't it a cool idea?"
Not sure what to do in this situation, all I say is, "Y-Yeah, sure thing. Let's do this and, um, may the best Beyblader win…" I can't help sounding nervous, this is literally life or death for me.
My nervousness doesn't seem to affect Tyson as he just looks at Dragoon in his hand. "Wait 'till my grandpa hears, I'm gonna need some major training. I'm sure it'll be worth all the work though…just to see Kai's face when I win."
Yeah, sorry Tyson, but Kai isn't Kaiba. He's not going to freak out and drop off the face of the planet just cuz he lost.
Back to my problem. I don't think finding Kai will be a problem. I just have to ask around or even just these guys. Hell, maybe just go to the abandoned warehouse area and I'll maybe stumble upon it. The real issue is what comes next…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
This still feels like a horrible idea.
I wasn't able to get much information about where exactly Kai was. I tried asking Tyson and Kenny using the excuse of wanting to test myself against the returning champion and not thinking I'd get that far in the tournament. They said I shouldn't get involved with him but told me Kai hung out in an abandoned warehouse.
I got the same 'directions' from everyone else I asked.
I decided to head to where the warehouses were and hope I stumble upon them.
However, it seems I underestimated how convenient things are in this story. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting. Maybe something a little more maze-like with there being several or dozens of buildings to pick from? But I have almost no trouble at all. There are surprisingly few buildings in the area and only one that really looks like a warehouse - abandoned or otherwise.
It's already gotten dark out and the garage-style door is slightly open - so I can see the lights are on.
Feeling the need to be the guy who dramatically appears out of nowhere, I decide not to try and open the door any further than it already is since it would get their attention. Instead, I take advantage of the much smaller size of my young body. I lie on the ground and crawl under the gap under the door.
Once inside, I can hear people talking.
"How long," I hear Kai ask.
After a moment, one of his lackies exclaims in shock, "Man, it's been almost ten minutes."
"Go to stage two, now," Kai orders.
"B-But, Kai," lackey number two questions.
"You can't expect to take us all on at the same time," says a third lackey.
"Yes, that happens to be the plan," Kai boasts. "Unless you want to throw in the towel."
There's a pause and I begin moving closer. I hear Kai ordering them to get ready to - assumedly and predictably - launch their Beyblades. As I get closer, I spot the only lackey I recognize sulking in a corner.
Tanned skin with short black hair. He wore a maroon bandanna, sleeveless jean-jacket with white fur color and lining around the sleeves, jeans, and dark boots.
This is Carlos. The first Blade Shark to make an appearance in the story and Tyson's adversary for the first one or two chapters. I have to wonder why he's here. If memory serves, Kai kicked him out after losing and smashed his Beyblade into pieces. Well, looks like he got a new one.
He seems to spot me as I pass but doesn't say anything.
I hear gasps and the sounds of Beyblades clattering on the ground. I stop to wait for my moment.
"Oh, oh, it can't be," says the first lackey. "That's not possible."
Kai scoffs. "I invented the word possible."
Scene over. One…Two…And…
"Well, that's certainly a bold statement," I say aloud as I enter the scene.
"Who goes there," Kai demands.
I step out where everyone can see me and I them.
There are a number of crates off to the side with Kai sitting on them. The main area consisted of a raised platform with the three lackeys standing on it. I already knew that in the middle of the platform, it was equipped with a BeyStadium similar to Max's basement.
"Hey, we asked who you are," demanded one of the lackeys.
Ignoring the lackeys, I look over to Kai. Tall and muscular for his age, he had pale skin, brown eyes, and a head of thick blue-gray hair. On his cheeks were a pair triangular, cobalt blue marks. Around his neck he wore a long white scarf. The rest of his outfit consisted of a tight-fitting black tank-top with red ends and yellow buttons, red arm-guards with curved and grey protrusions resembling fins, cerulean baggy pants with large pockets, and black shoes with red stripes.
Smiling - though possibly looking more pompous than friendly -, I ask, "Are you Kai?"
"Who's wanting to know," Kai asks back challengingly.
"Just someone who came across your training. It seemed like these guys weren't doing very well, so I thought I'd try and offer you more of a challenge. Name's Scott Eustace."
I give myself a mental fist bump. I know in reality I'm being a total loser for trying to play the whole 'mysterious challenger' role, but I have to give myself props. Given I'm making this all up on the spot, I think I'm doing pretty well.
"Alright, Scott, you don't seem to know where you are, so let me enlighten you. We are the Blade Sharks-"
"Oh, I know who you are," I interrupt to try and control the direction of the conversation. "A certain Monopoly Man told me there's a tournament coming up with you as the reigning champion. I wanted to see how I stack up."
"Best go home kid."
Doing a stellar job of hiding my nervousness thanks to years of working customer support, I say the first thing that comes to mind, "You're not scared are you?"
"What was that?"
"It's just…I heard you lost a match against some kid named Tyson…Can't help but wonder if you're worried about losing to another no name kid."
If a fight breaks out, I am going to be reduced to a pulp. However, I only worry about that for a moment before reminding myself what world I'm in. Firearms will never hit their mark, people escape explosions with barely a scratch, and all 'fights' are settled in the form of a game.
"Alright, kid, you asked for it," Kai said as he jumped down from his perch and started walking toward the platform.
"Kai," one of the lackey's I'm not even keeping track of anymore questions, "you can't be serious. This kid's a nobody. Let us handle it."
"Like you handled Tyson," Kai said back challengingly as he finished climbing the steps.
Kai's Beyblade - Dranzer S - was still in the stadium before it seemed to move on its own, travel up the side of the BeyStadium, and flew into his hand. It was predominantly cobalt blue but with red accents. He then pulled out a Launcher and Ripcord and readied them. Once prepared, he held his Bey out and claimed, "For your sake, you'd better not disappoint, Scott."
I'd already climbed the steps and nudged the lackey out of my way. I then prepared Leech Worm and stood ready. "I hope so, but at least I should put up more of a fight than these three."
Finally seeming to snap out of it, the lackeys moved out of the way except one who took the position of referee. "Are the Bladers ready? Okay…Three…Two…One…Let it rip!"
On 'one' both Kai and I pulled our Ripcords and sent our Beys spinning into the Stadium.
Once they touched down, I again saw the phantoms of our Bit Beasts appear before my eyes. Kai's Dranzer was a red phoenix. As big as Dragoon, it was the vermillion pheasant just as much as Dragoon was the azure dragon. While I may prefer Dragoon myself because A) dragon - duh - and B) main character, I have no issue saying that Dranzer is far more glorious and majestic looking.
I expect Worm to settle at the center of the dish, but I'm mistaken. Dranzer proves too fast and rounds the Stadium to strike at it. I notice the slight shock on Kai's face as - instead of being sent flying - Worm takes the hit. It's pushed back sure, but it isn't knocked away.
This is reflected by the spirits themselves. Like Dragoon, Dranzer lazily swatted at Worm with its wing. However, Worm managed to bite down and hold on for dear life as Dranzer tried to shake it loose.
Among the fantom sensations of being shaken around, I feel something else. I came here with the suspicion that the path to victory was through facing other Bit Beasts. So, I decided to pay close attention to anything different, and I was right. As Worm uses Leech Energy to siphon off Dranzer's power, I feel something.
It's different from regular Beyblades. Leeching off those is like splashing a bit of cold water on your face as a pick-me-up. But this; now that I'm paying attention to it, it's like a rush of energy through my veins. How didn't I notice this before?
"Break away Dranzer," Kai ordered.
In response, Dranzer seemed to pull back and slam into Worm once more before slipping past. This was represented by the Bit Beasts themselves by Dranzer more harshly slamming Worm into the ground and causing it to lose its grip on Dranzer's wing.
Worm proceeded to settle at the base of the BeyStadium while Dranzer circled around.
"You have a Bit Beast," Kai concluded.
"Got it in one," I respond - pulling my attention from the giant bird to its master. "So, what do you say, am I more of a challenge?"
However, Kai scoffed at me. "You're just an amateur with a power beyond you're understanding."
I can't help but think, "Oh, I understand it plenty."
"I'm ending this," Kai suddenly declared. "Dranzer!"
The Bey suddenly moved and shot up the side of the BeyStadium. However, rather than fly out, it continued to fly into the air at an angle that caused it to reach over the base of the stadium where Worm was sitting. It begins to descend.
Recognizing the classic move, I call out, "Leech Worm, move!"
In response to my desperate plea, in the last moment, Worm manages to wobble. Doing this puts it at just the right angle to avoid the brunt of Dranzer's attack. Instead of having its full force crash down on and potentially destroy Worm, the collision sends Worm flying out of the Stadium.
Seeming somewhat shocked by Kai's attack failing to have the intended effect, the lackey referee slowly managed to get out, "R-Ring out…and the winner is Kai!"
The phantoms vanish and I go ahead and hop down to retrieve Worm. Making sure it's still in one piece, I find that one of the points on the Attack Ring is broken and there's a small dent in the Weight Disk. I know it was powered by the spirit of an ancient super monster, but how does something made of plastic manage to noticeably dent solid metal.
"That was something, I'll give you that," Kai…I think compliments. "I'll let you off for now, but know that I won't go as easy on you if we meet in the tournament."
"I'll keep that in mind." My bravado is wearing off, so I say that and start walking away. I don't have a choice but to enter the tournament, but I really hope I'm not in the same preliminary division as Kai.